Alva Review-Courier -

When local law enforcement went to an Alva address to serve a felony arrest warrant, what they saw led them to obtain a search warrant. Two men are now facing drug charges.

On May 28, Woods County Undersheriff Keith Dale requested the assistance of Alva Police Officer Kris Franta to serve a felony arrest warrant in the 1200 block of Locust St. in Alva. The warrant out of Sedgwick County, Kansas, was for Reid Gibson on a charge of aggravated battery.

After knocking on the front door of the residence and announcing their presence, Dale told Franta he could hear Gibson inside moving around. Gibson refused to surrender himself so entry was made into the residence. After Gibson was placed in the backseat of Dale’s patrol car, Gibson was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with Franta.

During the interview, Gibson stated the owner of the home, Michael Baldwin, had picked him up four days ago so he could work on the house. Gibson said he had previously stayed at the house approximately one month ago. Gibson said he stays in the back (southeast) bedroom of the home, living room and basement. Baldwin stays in the front (northeast) bedroom and living room.

Gibson said there were no drugs in the room he stayed in except maybe some marijuana in a pipe. During a security sweep of the house, a marijuana pipe was seen in plain view in the southeast bedroom. The residence was secured, and a search warrant was prepared.

At 3:20 p.m. a lawful search was conducted. Among items found in the living room were three syringes loaded with suspected methamphetamine, 29 used syringes, a plastic bag of meth weighing 4.4 grams, a Taurus handgun with magazine and four rounds of .380 ammunition.

In the southeast bedroom, officers found items including a syringe loaded with suspected meth, a plastic bag containing 9 ounces of marijuana, a plastic bag with 8.5 ounces of marijuana, three plastic bags with 4.5 ounces of marijuana each, and a plastic bag containing 49 grams of marijuana.

In the northeast bedroom, officers found $19 in cash, two used syringes, a box of .410 shotgun shells and one Stevens .410 Model 940 shotgun.

On May 31, Reid Henry Watkins Gibson, 45, of Wichita, Kansas, was charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) with intent to distribute and possess firearm during commission of a felony, both felonies. Bond was set at $20,000 for the charges.

Gibson was also charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. Bond was set at $2,000 on those charges.

As a result of the search warrant, Michael Lawrence Baldwin, 62, of Alva, has been charged with three felony counts: (1) unlawful possession of Schedule 1 or II controlled drug (marijuana) with intent to distribute, (2) maintaining a place for keeping or selling controlled substance, and (3) possess firearm during commission of a felony. His bond was set at $25,000 on these felony charges.

Baldwin was also charged with possession of controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. Bond was set at $2,000. Baldwin was already in jail having been arrested on May 27 (see separate story).

Both Gibson and Baldwin are scheduled to make their next appearance in court on July 12.